--- title: "Shrek the Third: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/shrek-the-third/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/shrek-the-third" critics_score: 47 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Shrek the Third (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 47 from 19 reviews: 1 positive, 8 mixed, 10 negative. Most critics call this a tired third outing. The reviews lean negative: ten are unfavourable, eight are mixed and only one is positive. The complaint that recurs is a thin, half-baked story and jokes that land less often than they did in the first two films, with several reviewers writing that the series has run out of ideas. The praise, such as it is, goes to the animation, which most agree has weight and polish, and to the supporting cast: Eddie Murphy’s Donkey and Antonio Banderas’s Puss in Boots, the Gingerbread Man, and the early sight gags before the quest plot settles in. The spread is fairly wide. At one end, Paste finds the film as entertaining as the original and better than the second; at the other, The Guardian thinks the series should have stopped after part two. In between, critics split over whom it serves: some say it will still divert young children, while the Los Angeles Times finds too many of the jokes aimed at adults. ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2007. McCarthy finds the film amusing and stylish, though its middle section loses momentum. He praises the visual storytelling and especially the playful design of the stage productions framing the film. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/digital/awards/shrek-the-third-2-1200559375/) ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2007. The visible excerpt gives no clear critical verdict, focusing instead on the film’s likely box-office performance. It does not reveal what the critic praises or criticizes about the film. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/shrek-the-third/4032264.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2007. The review’s verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be established from the inaccessible page. The available page text contains no review details. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/18/movies/18shre.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 17 May 2007. Ebert finds the film a disappointing follow-up, though it has moments of amusement. He singles out its diminished comic freshness compared with the earlier films. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shrek-the-third) ## Radio Times — Jamie Russell Rating 3/5. Russell finds the film entertaining but weakened by franchise fatigue and a half-baked storyline. He praises the lively double act between Eddie Murphy’s Donkey and Antonio Banderas’s Puss-in-Boots. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-m9aiwr/shrek-the-third/) ## Time Out Rating 3/5. 16 May 2007. Time Out suggests the third installment is a disappointment rather than a magical return. It notes that, unlike some other recent trilogy finales, the film has at least one redeeming quality, though the available excerpt does not reveal what it is. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shrek-the-third) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 2/4. 18 May 2007. Gonzalez dismisses the film as witless, overstuffed, and largely unfunny. He singles out the brief tea-party scene with the Gingerbread Man, Pinocchio, and the Three Pigs as one of its rare funny moments. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shrek-the-third/) ## Los Angeles Times — Carina Chocano Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2007. Chocano finds the film uneven, with some amusing moments but too many adult-oriented jokes for a kids’ movie. She praises Shrek’s surreal anxiety dream and King Harold’s deathbed scene as particularly funny. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-18-et-shrek18-story.html) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating D. 17 May 2007. Robinson finds the film sleepy and uncommitted, with little resonance in its responsibility message. She singles out the gags involving Shrek temporarily standing in for the king as the film’s best moments. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/shrek-the-third-1798202645) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2007. Denby finds the film’s plot weaker and its knowing humor increasingly tiresome, making the review largely critical. He praises Rupert Everett’s performance as Prince Charming, while noting that the computer-generated imagery gives the characters visual weight. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/28/not-kids-stuff) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2007. Jolin finds the film a disappointing sequel that will still sufficiently divert young children. He praises the impressive visuals but faults the sparse laughs and the wasted comic potential of Donkey and Puss. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shrek-third-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2007. Honeycutt finds the third film disappointing, with less bite and wit than its predecessors. He praises the animation but says the climax and recycled visual gags let it down. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/review-shrek-third-135897/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2007. Mackie sees the film as a tired, overly sentimental retread and argues the series should have stopped after the second installment. He complains that the thin script and lame jokes outweigh the occasional funny scene and technically impressive set-pieces. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/nov/26/dvdreviews.animation) ## Paste — Tim Basham Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2007. Basham finds the third installment as entertaining as the original and better than the second. He praises its inventive sight gags, biting dialogue, and deft musical choices. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/shrek-the-third) ## /Film — Peter Sciretta Rating 6/10. 18 May 2007. Sciretta finds the story weak but says the film succeeds when it plays with fairy-tale conventions. He praises the early jokes and the comic side characters, while criticizing the slowing pace and recommending waiting for home video. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/496279/movie-review-shrek-the-third/) ## Den of Geek — Robert Mclaughlin Rating 2/5. 2 July 2007. The critic finds the sequel a disappointing, creatively exhausted misfire. He singles out Snow White and Gingy’s flashback as rare bright spots amid weak jokes and a generic script. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/shrek-the-third-review/) ## The Skinny — Megan Garriock Rating ★★. 10 June 2007. Garriock calls the film fun but forgettable and says it misses the mark. She praises the animation and voice performances, but criticizes the weak, obvious storyline. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/shrek-the-third) ## Digital Spy — Tony Delgado Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2007. The review finds the film a real disappointment, saying its weak narrative fails to sustain interest. It praises the opening visual gags but singles out the tedious quest and thin dialogue as major problems. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a62999/shrek-3/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2007. Kermode finds the film overblown and narratively weak, though it has a few good moments. She praises the adorable dragon-donkey children and the amusing school cliques, while criticizing the lack of sympathy for Prince Charming. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/shrek-the-third-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/shrek-the-third.md